Go Beyond Bridal

2/20

I paid a visit to the downtown New York City Tracy Reese boutique for some bridesmaid options. The great thing about having only one grownup attendant is that she can wear a pretty dress from anywhere. Here I am with the boutique manager, Stevie, with one of his favorite options.

Obama Power

3/20

Another Tracy Reese sales associate, Sarah, lets me know that she’s received several calls for this dress for bridal. Of course it helps that First Lady Michelle Obama wore it on the cover of People magazine. Pink is pretty…

Soft and Beautiful

Scent of the Day

5/20

Speaking of something for bridesmaids: One of my greatest discoveries in this wedding process? The experience of a customized fragrance. Neil Morris, neilmorrisfragrances.com, paid me a visit, and 50 questions and 200 sniffs later I had my own scent.

The Dress Is Coming Together

K.O. to the Rescue

7/20

I haven’t forgotten to use my talented friends in this wedding planning process. Karen Oliver is one of the most creative people I know. She runs her own P.R. firm by day, but also sews, paints and designs like a pro. When Johnny asked me to get tulle, I turned straight to K.O. Here she is in BJ’s Fabrics in New York City comparing tulle bolts to my swatch.

Lipgloss and Love

9/20

At my New York bridal shower in February, there were showers of tears. I don’t know what got into everyone, the food was amazing and the well-wishes I’ll remember forever. K.O. styled the table….check out the pretty white roses, bows and cupcakes…We’re ordering the same ribbon for my wedding programs. I’ll get to that next week. The hit of the day were the Tarte Nigel and Pam lipglosses…

Why Nawlins?

11/20

Many of you have asked, why New Orleans? I’m from Virginia; Nigel’s from Trinidad. We have no family there…but we fell in love with this great town, together, six years ago on our first visit. It was after seeing the documentary “Faubourg Treme, The Untold Story of Black New Orleans,” (tremedoc.com), that we were inspired to wed in The Big Easy. We want to spend our money in our beloved town which needs the financial flow.

Gumbo Love

13/20

The restaurant Dooky Chase is a New Orleans institution. Damages from Katrina have prevented the hot spot from reopening, but proprietor Leah Chase (left) is still dishing out gumbo and much more via her catering services. Nigel called last week and placed our order for the rehearsal dinner. We’ve got a serious gumbo jones, and we can’t wait to introduce our friends and family to this authentic N.O. cuisine.

Dancing in the Streets

14/20

While Nigel was handling the catering, I booked our Second Line band, the Treme Brass Band. I spoke to their leader, snare drummer Benny Jones, Sr., who, thank God, said they were free on the eleventh! When I discovered that New Orleanians second line for weddings, I was hooked on this being a part of my big day.

Songs From the Heart

Introduction to the Treme

16/20

Before my first trip to N.O., an aesthetician friend of mind recommended we stay at her fave Bed & Breakfast, Monrose Row, monroserow.com. The proprietor, Cindy Keuffer is a true New Orleanian historian and makes a scrumptious blueberry muffin. This gorgeous 170 year-old building is in the heart of the Treme. Free people of color settled there in the 1800s and it’s arguably the birthplace of jazz––good stuff.

Blowing Off Some Steam

20/20

This beauty prep for the wedding is a process. I swear by deep conditioning hair treatments which is why I returned to the Eiji Salon, eiji-newyork.com after they enticed me their Cashmere Hair Treatment, a protein and moisturizing mask followed by lots of steam. Here I am under the watchful eye of stylist Jess Hong.